Leaving Namibia
The First Easter for the Khwe in Caprivi! Kevin returned from taking a small team with him up to the Caprivi (10 hours northeast) to the Khwe church there. It was the first time the small amount of believers had come together from 5 villages to hear the stories of Christ’s passion, reflect and celebrate Christ’s victory given to us! It was unlike any other trip with huge language barriers and a delicate balance of letting the church lead and we serve.
Only 4 weeks until lift-off, and so much is happening:
– Kevin’s trip to Angola is delayed because the Epps are still awaiting their visas. Please pray for these to come through.
– Cami will be going to Zimbabwe mid-month to attend a conference on the African missions movement, representing AfriGO and AIM.
–Toby will depart Namibia mid-May when his work visa expires, and will wait for us in South Africa until we come.
–Charlie has finished in-person school here, receiving credit for the 2 classes he was taking. He will continue working on his 5 online classes until October or November.
A correction: our last newsletter may have implied that the Epps will be AIM’s first missionaries to Angola, but rather they are the first ones that we have had a hand in sending. Back in the 2000s, Randy and Susan Carpenters served faithfully for many years in Angola before their work permits weren’t renewed. They were the pioneers!
Cami’s thoughts: As I pack up yet another house, there are so many mixed feelings. Mostly we are grateful for our years in Namibia, opportunities for ministry, and God’s provision for us and for our children. Personally, I am thankful for the excellent medical care that lets me depart Namibia with a lot less pain than I arrived with, even after major back surgery last year. Then, there’s the sadness of yet another group of faces that we will miss, and the sense of dislocation that comes from moving countries yet again. It’s all too much to process quickly, and over the last months we’ve each had our own emotional journey which will continue for some time to come. Meanwhile, we look forward to seeing our loved ones Stateside, and returning “home”.
On June 2nd, Kevin, Cami & Charlie will board a bus to Capetown, where we’ll see friends and visit the school Charlie will be attending starting next February, to study sound design and music production.
On June 10th, four of us will fly to New York, where we’ll spend a week before heading out to visit Cami’s family and celebrate her parent’s 60th wedding anniversary. It’ll be the first time she, her sister and parents are together in 10 years, so we are all looking forward to it.
Then in late July, we’ll settle in the Connecticut area and start visiting supporters and churches. We’ll be in touch to set dates and make plans.
Toby’s internship with the Trauma Healing Network over these last months has been valuable in showing him that there is a great need for Trauma counselors, and that he wants to be one! He’s driven up and down through Namibia, and this week was launched north with two other THN colleagues, to lead seminars in five more towns. He has plans to move to Australia in July, to work while he does an online Master’s Degree in Counseling.
Other prayer and praise items
1. Cami continues to need prayer regarding decisions on work. She praises God for some help during furlough which has been provided. Pray for wisdom in organizing it all.
2. CONTINUE to pray for Richard and Maggie Mwako of Zambia. There has been some movement on their financial support, but it is nowhere near the amount needed. Kevin had a great visit with Richard up in Katima in February.
3. We praise God for Kevin’s successful trip to Rundu to teach on servant leadership and biblical conflict resolution. It was well-received and we pray it will have lasting results. He also led a team to the Khwe Bushmen over Easter, to assist them in their first-ever Easter Camp.
4. Please pray for us in the many goodbyes. It’s hard. We still need a temporary home for our cat while we are in the USA. Pray for all the logistics and journeys and luggage and packing and. . . . so many things to pray for. We thank God for already smoothing the path in amazing ways.
Visit AfriGO’s webpage here and the Facebook page here and Instagram here. The YouTube channel has recorded conversations with African leaders as well as short inspirational videos.
Kevin & Cami in Southern Africa 